On 15 August 2024, the Young Urbanists of Southeast Asia (YUSEA) and Youth for Energy Southeast Asia (Y4E-SEA) jointly organised an online panel discussion event entitled Roadmap to COP29: ASEAN’s Transition towards Low-Carbon Cities and Meaningful Youth Inclusion. This 1.5-hour online webinar attracted 110. registrations, featuring a diverse panel with different professional backgrounds, domain expertise and regional focuses:
Giorgia Pasqualetto, Energy Efficiency and Cooling Specialist at Sustainable Energy for All
Irma Ramadan, Associate Senior Officer of Energy Efficiency & Conservation with the ASEAN Centre for Energy
Michael Hutahaean, Deputy Program Manager at the Resilience Development Initiativ
Victoria Arnaiz, Board Member with Reboot Philippines
Endry Lim, Research Director, Youth for Energy Southeast Asia (Moderator)
The panel discussion focused on the concept of low-carbon cities and the crucial role of youth in developing future-ready policies. Speakers shared their insights and experiences on defining low-carbon cities, strategies for achieving them, the importance of energy transition, success stories and challenges, and how youth and COP29 can contribute to the goal of establishing low-carbon cities.
Michael from Resilience Development Initiative (RDI) highlighted Southeast Asian cities' commitment to combating climate change, enhancing economies, and reducing carbon footprints, pointing to RDI's research in Jakarta's transportation transformation as key to reassessing net-zero emission targets. Giorgia from Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) emphasized that low-carbon cities must thrive at the intersection of climate change mitigation and adaptation, aligning with Sustainable Development Goal 11 "sustainable cities and communities" to foster resilient, inclusive, and sustainable urban environments. Irma from ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE) discussed the critical role of energy efficiency programmes across various sectors in promoting green infrastructure and sustainable public transport. Lastly, Victoria from Reboot PH brought attention to the social dimension of climate justice, noting that while ASEAN countries emit less, they bear a disproportionate burden of climate impacts, highlighting the need for local-level solutions that engage the most affected communities.
Additionally, the panelists underscored the importance of youth engagement, especially at forums like COP29, where youth voices can shape discussions on climate finance and green infrastructure. They collectively agreed that educating and involving young people is vital for advancing the transition to low-carbon cities and ensuring that policies are both inclusive and forward-looking. They also pointed to several existing examples of active youth movements and advocacy across Southeast Asia, such as the establishment of local chapters of regional and national non-profit organizations.
Overall, the panel discussion highlighted the critical role of youth in shaping future-ready policies for low-carbon cities in Southeast Asia. The speakers emphasized the importance of holistic approaches to urban development, focusing on climate change mitigation, energy efficiency, and social justice. They also underscored the need for youths to step up and make their voices heard at global forums like COP29 to drive meaningful action, as well as the need for inclusive solutions at the local level. Y4E-SEA and YUSEA extend their gratitude to the speakers, organizing committee, and audience for their contributions to a fruitful and engaging discussion.
If you would like to participate in more events like this one that engage with topics like energy efficiency and urban development, please keep in touch with both YUSEA and Y4E-SEA via our websites and social media channels. See you at our future events!
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